Supporters of E-Voting Throw Computer Mice at Bulgarian Parliament

Some 50 people gathered at a demonstration in downtown Sofia Friday calling for the introduction of electronic voting in the country.

The protesters made good on their “threat” and threw computer mice at the Bulgarian Parliament.

They urged the government to resign and referred to the lawmakers as “mice.”

Last week, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev proposed a referendum in which Bulgarians will have their say on whether they want to elect some of their MPs directly rather than from party lists, voting made obligatory and electronic voting allowed.

Plevneliev noted that electronic voting would allow the vast number of Bulgarians living abroad to take part in elections.

However, the Socialist-led government was quick to reject all of Plevneliev’s suggestions. Key Bulgarian Socialist Party officials claimed that electronic voting would “violate the secret of the vote.”

Bulgaria’s embattled government has so far survived despite over eight months of relentless anti-corruption protests.